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OLDEN TIME RACING IN CANADA No product of modern conditions is the Canadian circuit writes Francis Nclsou in tin Toronti Globe Long beyond the farthest limit of the memories of those now interested in racing the presentday circuit had its prototype in the arrange ¬ ment which is referred to In the following terms in The Spirit of the Times New York in its issue of May rO 1840 four and sixty years ago Canada Races We are desired to state that the races at Hamilton will commence on the 21th June at Caledonia Springs on the 20th July at Quebeck on the 4th August and nt Montreal on tf1 17th August Most of the big tilings in the n of purses and stakes ire open to all horses horsesRichard Richard Ten Broeck and other owners came from as far south as Mobile and New Orleans to run Monsieur Bertram Sally Ward Maria Peyton and other giants of those times in threemile heats on the Canadian tracks as far us Quebec The journeys from the inoulli of the Mississippi to the Gulf of St Lawrence were made by steamboat and road and It took a whole season to do the Canadian circuit Toronto at that time was rather in eclipse as to rac ¬ ing What are described as pleasant and successful race meetings over N Scarletts the Simcoe Chase course had taken place in 1839 and 1840 but for a few years subsequent to that time racing in Toronto suffered from the exactions of the proprietor of the St Leger course As an instance of his methods of killing the goose the expense of com ¬ peting for a 250 purse that he offered amounted to 0 and lie got eleven entries on one occasion He charged 25 entry and 1250 more to start flic jockey boy had to pay a fee of 1250 and at the finish a deduction of live per cent was made from money due winners This beats the guaranteed stakes of modern times all hollow Once this en ¬ terprising gentleman received in entrance and start ¬ ing fees 525 for a race in which the purse amounted to only 237 The establishment of the Union course grew out of the unpopularity of the St Leger methods but I am not able to point out either the St Leger or the Union location unless the old course just across the Dun was one The Scarlett course was on the banks of the llmuber at Lunihton and the name of Scarletts Plains still attaches to the property propertyHamilton Hamilton was a decidedly more important racing point for a time the sport being in the control of the Gore District Turf Club whuse officers in 1840 were President Sir Allan N Macnab vicepresi ¬ dent P II Hamilton and stewards Miles OReilly R J Hamilton K O Duggan W Dickson John C Wilson Thomas Stinsoh W M Shaw James B Ewart Charles Bain J A Land Esquires Dr Digby Dr Miller D C Gunn treasurer Andrew Stuart secretary N NThe The following year the Hamilton track was leased by Thomas Gillesby and in conuection with the post ¬ ponement of the next fall meeting ho made an ¬ nouncement in the following terms In consequence of the Great Provincial Show and the Assizes taking place at the time for which the races were an ¬ nounced they have been postponed until Tuesday the 12th of October when they will commence and con thine three days Due notice will be given of the purses and arrangements
